As a lively teenager growing up in Crystal Palace, Emma Williams admits she was beginning to head in a direction her parents worried about. Easily distracted at school and spending time with people who weren’t bringing out the best in her, they encouraged her to try a local Saturday morning drama class with Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, now known as Drama Kids.
Nearly three decades later, Emma, now 39, says those classes gave her something she had been searching for – a place where she truly belonged.
That sense of belonging sparked a lifelong passion for theatre, led her to study at the BRIT School before graduating from Brunel University and ultimately inspired a career working within the theatre industry. Today, she heads specialist theatre insurance brand Showtime which is part of Howden, supporting productions, venues and organisations across the performing arts sector.
Emma said: “I was a bit of a show-off if I’m honest. I loved performing at school, but outside of that I was easily distracted and beginning to spend time with people my parents weren’t particularly keen on. My parents said I needed something more positive to do with my time and found a local Drama Kids class on Saturday mornings.
“I suddenly felt like I’d come into my own. I was surrounded by people who were like me, who loved performing, loved creating things together and weren’t afraid to be themselves. It gave me somewhere I belonged.”
Although Emma says she wasn’t naturally academic, her enthusiasm for drama quickly stood out. One of her teachers encouraged her to join GCSE drama classes, eventually leading to a successful audition for the prestigious BRIT School.
Emma still remembers encouraging the interview panel to judge her on her commitment to drama rather than her school reports. She said: “I told them to ignore my school reports and speak to my Drama Kids teacher instead. She could tell them how I never missed a class and how much it meant to me. Drama was where I found my purpose.”
After studying Theatre, TV and Film at Brunel University, Emma briefly considered pursuing acting professionally but instead built a career that kept her connected to the world she loved. Starting in an administrative role, she deliberately sought opportunities within the theatre industry before working her way through a variety of positions. Today, she leads Showtime, a specialist insurance team dedicated to supporting theatres, producers, venues and live entertainment organisations across the UK.
“There’s always been a part of me that wondered, ‘What if?’ when it comes to acting,” she said. “But I also knew I wanted a family and I wanted stability. I’ve been fortunate enough to build a career that’s still completely connected to theatre. If you can bring together your passion and your profession, you’re in a really special place.”
Emma believes the lessons she learned through drama have continued to shape her career just as much as her love of performing. “It wasn’t just about standing on a stage,” she said. “It taught me how to communicate, how to actively listen and how to work with lots of different personalities.
“When you’re creating something together, you realise it’s not all about you. You learn to support other people, adapt your approach and build each other up. They’re skills I still use every day leading my team.”
Now married with two children aged 10 and seven, Emma says performing remains at the heart of family life. The family recently appeared together in a local pantomime, while both children regularly take part in drama and dance competitions, with her daughter recently placing fourth nationally for a drama monologue at the British Arts Festival.
Looking back, Emma believes one decision made by her parents all those years ago changed the course of her life. “If I’d never walked through those doors, I genuinely don’t know where I’d have ended up,” she said.
“It wasn’t just about learning lines or putting on performances. It gave me confidence, direction and, most importantly, a community where I felt I belonged. That’s stayed with me ever since.”
Becky Goodfield, Head of Drama Kids, said: “Emma’s story is a wonderful reminder that drama is about so much more than preparing children for the stage. For many young people, particularly those who might not feel they fit neatly into one box at school, drama provides a place where they can express themselves, build meaningful friendships and discover strengths they didn’t know they had.
“Along the way they’re developing communication, resilience, empathy and teamwork without even realising it. Those skills stay with them for life, whatever career they choose.
“Seeing someone like Emma build a successful career while remaining connected to the performing arts, and now watching her own children discover that same love of drama, is exactly the kind of lasting impact we hope every child takes away from their time with Drama Kids.”
